College Preparation

Choose a section

• Pre-Health Professions

  Compare health careers by degree, program length and pay, then open each path.

• Pre-Med (MD / DO)

  College courses, high school preparation, the MCAT and licensing for future doctors.

• Nursing: the career ladder

  From nursing assistant to LPN, RN and advanced practice, step by step.

• Majors & Careers

  What each major studies and where it can lead.

• Engineering majors

  The first-year engineering core and 10 engineering majors, with typical courses and careers.

• STEM majors

  11 science, technology and math majors, from physics to data science, with typical courses and careers.

• International students

  For students from Europe, South America, Canada and other countries: SEVP schools, the Form I-20, the F-1 visa, cost and working, with sources.

• Getting In

  How admission rates, test policies and early decision work, and where to find each college’s official numbers.

• Preparing to Apply

  Timelines, building a profile, and applying as a homeschool student.

• Paying for College

  The FAFSA, Pell Grants and the CSS Profile.

• Transfer

  Moving from a community college to a university.

• Test Prep

  The SAT, ACT, PSAT/NMSQT, AP and CLEP, and English tests for international applicants.

High school courses colleges ask for: one university system’s list

These are examples from two universities, not a rule for every college. Confirm each college’s own list.

• University of California first-year applicants must complete 15 yearlong high school courses with a letter grade of C or better, at least 11 of them before their last year of high school. [1]
• The University of California's required courses include two years of history: one year of world history, cultures or historical geography, and one year of U.S. history or a half year of U.S. history and a half year of civics or American government. [1]
• The University of California's required courses include four years of college-preparatory English with frequent writing and reading of classic and modern literature. [1]
• The University of California's required courses include three years of college-preparatory mathematics covering elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-dimensional geometry, and a fourth year of math is strongly recommended. [1]
• The University of California's required courses include two years of college-preparatory science covering two of these three subjects: biology, chemistry or physics, and a third year of science is recommended. [1]
• The University of California's required courses include two years of the same language other than English (or the equivalent of the second level of high school instruction), and a third year is recommended. [1]
• The University of California's required courses include one yearlong course of visual and performing arts: dance, music, theater, visual arts or interdisciplinary arts. [1]
• The University of California's required courses include one year (two semesters) of a college-preparatory elective. [1]

A private university’s advice

• Applicants should consistently take classes in core academic areas: English, social studies, math, science and foreign language. [2]
• Applicants to its School of Nursing should have a strong preparation in the sciences, particularly in chemistry and biology. [2]
• Applicants to Penn Engineering should have strong preparation in physics and mathematics, particularly calculus. [2]

How we research

• Every fact on these pages has a small numbered link, like [1]. It goes to the source list at the bottom of the page, with the date we checked it.
• We use official sources only: government agencies, professional, licensing and testing bodies, and university catalogs and admissions pages.
• If we cannot find an official source for something, we leave it out.
• Before a page is published, it is checked automatically for missing citations and broken links, and then every fact is checked again against its source.
• UpOnly Learning does not promise admission, grades, a job or pay. Requirements change every year, so always confirm with each school.

Sources

1. University of California, Office of the President (UC Admissions). Subject requirement (A–G). https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/admission-requirements/first-year-requirements/subject-requirement-a-g.html. no edition stated. Checked November 4, 2026.
2. University of Pennsylvania, Penn Admissions. Academics (Preparing Your Application). https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/preparing-your-application/academics. no edition stated. Checked November 4, 2026.

Format: Publisher. Page title. URL. Edition or catalog year. Checked date.